Written Answers Nos. 210-226
210. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been reached on the accommodation for the proposed Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth, County Kildare; if it will be accommodated on the same site as schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46548/18]
View answer236. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46933/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 236 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, Maynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established.As part of the Major School Building Projects announcement in November 2015 and in view of the continued support for an independent Gaelcholáiste, it was confirmed that a Gaelcholáiste to serve the North Kildare area will open in 2019, subject to the continued viability of the Irish-medium Aonad at Maynooth Community College.
Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board and An Foras Pátrúnachta are working through the practical arrangements to facilitate the establishment of the Gaelcholáiste and my Department will continue to work with them in this regard.
211. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of a person (details supplied) relating to a SUSI grant will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46562/18]
View answerThe current qualifying distance of 45km for the higher non-adjacent rate of student grant, takes into account a reasonable radius within which students may commute on a daily basis. The measurement of the distances relating to the award of adjacent or non-adjacent rates of student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The distance measurement for student grant rates is governed by Article 27(3)(a) and (b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2018. This provides that the relevant distance will be measured in line with agreed guidelines. The guidelines require that the shortest most direct route between the applicant's normal residence and the institution being attended should apply. In determining the shortest most direct route, the relevant awarding authority shall establish:
- the method for measuring a route; and
- the factors to be taken into account in establishing and measuring a route.
SUSI has progressively introduced a number of measures that are intended to make the Student Grant Scheme more efficient for students. One of these measures is the introduction of Eircode which has helped to reduce processing times for applicants. SUSI continues to use google maps to calculate distance from a student’s home to college.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe. Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.
212. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with a person or persons specifically relating to a matter (details supplied); and if so, the details of such meetings. [46572/18]
View answerI can confirm that I met with an individual late last month and at that meeting I was given correspondence relating to a number of schools issues. These letters are currently being dealt with in the normal manner of correspondence received by the Minister.
213. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received a request for a deputation from parents at a school (details supplied). [46575/18]
View answerI have not received a request to meet a deputation from the school in question.
214. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be completed. [46576/18]
View answerThis project is currently at architectural planning with the design being progressed in preparation for the planning application which will be the next key milestone in the progression of the project. It is expected for the planning application to be lodged before the end of this year. The School Board of Management will be invited to view the plans for the new school in advance of the planning application being submitted to the local authority. It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the further progression of the project to tender and construction until such time as planning permission has been secured.
215. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be completed. [46577/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). He will also be aware that the main contractor appointed originally to carry out the works went into liquidation.
The ETB and its Design Teams are currently making arrangements for a replacement contractor. The revised completion date for the project is now August 2019 and the programme of work to achieve this is on track.
216. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be completed. [46578/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). He will also be aware that the main contractor appointed originally to carry out the works went into liquidation.
The ETB and its Design Teams are currently making arrangements for a replacement contractor. The revised completion date for the project is now August 2019 and the programme of work to achieve this is on track.
217. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a review of an area (details supplied) will be considered with a view to providing a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46589/18]
View answerIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school in Kinnegad (which is located in the Killucan school planning area), I have highlighted that the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
218. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if non-rental properties owned that are not primary residences are assessed for capital means for student grant purposes; if so, the calculations used for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46597/18]
View answerThe means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income, before deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions in different households.
Part 3 of the Student Grant Scheme 2018 deals with issues governing the determination of reckonable income. In calculating reckonable income, no account is taken of capital assets. However, income from all sources, whether it arises in the State or not, including rental and other income from land and property are considered as part of the means test for student grants.
219. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the need for repairs in a school (details supplied); if he will consider the request from the board of management of the school for a full inspection of the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46606/18]
View answerThe school in question should forward details of the issues and a request for an inspection of the building outlining the basis of their request, to officials in the School Building Unit who will review the submission and follow up as appropriate.
220. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the school capital appraisal section has received a planning approval appeal submitted by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal for the construction of a dedicated autism and sensory room; if his attention has been drawn to the need for this project to be granted approval in view of the unsuitable nature of existing facilities at the school to accommodate pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46627/18]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that an application was received in my Department, from the school referred to, for the provision of additional accommodation to cater for an ASD class.
I can confirm that the application was assessed but not approved for funding on the basis of sufficient accommodation being available within the existing school. The school subsequently requested a review of this decision, which is currently ongoing. A decision will issue to the school in question on the matter as soon as possible.
221. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process for inclusion in a building scheme by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46647/18]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's current focus is to prioritise funding for essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic need.
The National Development Plan (NDP) provides for an €8.4 billion investment in school buildings over the period 2018 to 2027 to deliver on NDP and National Planning Framework objectives through addressing the twin priorities of catering for demographics and ensuring a strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock. The announcement referred to the commitment to a PE Hall build and modernisation programme in post primary schools, starting in the second half of the Project Ireland 2040 period.
The immediate priority is to provide 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place. My Department is not in a position, at this point, to consider the request from the school to which the Deputy refers for a General Purpose Room. The request will however be retained on file for consideration in the event of funding becoming available for this purpose in the future.
My Department has recently clarified the position directly to the school.
222. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been progress made on the delivery of an Educate Together school for Leixlip (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46651/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I have announced new plans aimed at accelerating the provision of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment to reach 400 such schools by 2030.
I would point out that the previous model of patronage divestment yielded only a very limited number of schools for transfer to multi-denominational patrons (11 since 2013). I believe that the new schools reconfiguration for diversity process has the potential to significantly increase patron diversity in our school system.
While these new structures are being introduced, my Department will continue to work with the main stakeholders to progress delivery of diversity in areas already identified, including Leixlip.
As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including:
- a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Leixlip school planning area,
- a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Maynooth school planning area, and
- and a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2021 to serve the Naas school planning area.
This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies, including Educate Together, and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron and language of instruction, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.
223. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46654/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. The building project will be devolved to Waterford Wexford Education Training Board (WWETB) for delivery and it is my Department's intention to engage with WWETB shortly in this regard.
224. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an inspection at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46657/18]
View answerThe Department’s priority in initiating structural assessments of school buildings constructed by Western Building Systems (WBS) and implementing precautionary measures, where required, has been to ensure the safe occupancy of the school buildings, while minimising disruption to education provision.
The structural assessment at the school in question was focused on the extension constructed by WBS, which comprises the GP hall. The school opened in full after the mid-term break, following external precautionary measures in the form of a fence around the GP hall extension and protective decking.
Now that precautionary measures are in place, the Department will move quickly to initiate the next phase of more detailed structural investigations on all 42 schools constructed by WBS. These investigations will determine the nature and scope of the permanent remediation measures required. At that point, it will be possible to give a projected timeline for each school.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the safety of school students and staff has been, and will continue to be, the Department’s overriding priority during this process.
225. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of an ancillary grant to replace a retired secretary in a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46667/18]
View answerFunding for all primary schools in the free education scheme is dealt with on a per capita basis.
The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc., and the ancillary services grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.
The school referred to by the Deputy received €110,416 in respect of capitation funding in 2018, €74,770 for Capitation and €35,646 for Ancillary Services. In addition to these grants the salaries in respect of two Secretaries have been paid directly by my Department under the 1978/79 scheme, one of which will continue for 2019.
Schools are permitted to regard the capitation and ancillary services grants as a combined grant and Boards of Management have autonomy on how they use and prioritise this funding to meet their day to day running costs, including for the provision of secretarial and caretaker services.
There is no provision for additional payments outside of those outlined above.
226. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) will not have enough classrooms in September 2019 if it takes in a new junior infant class at that stage; if he has made preparations for the provision of new prefabricated classrooms to be operational for September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46671/18]
View answerOfficials at my Department are aware of the accommodation requirements of the school to which the Deputy refers and all the necessary arrangements will be put in place to insure that there is sufficient suitable additional accommodation available to the school for September 2019.
